Ask for help before you need emergency housing if you can.

The council could help you stay in your home or find you somewhere else to live so you do not become homeless.

Every council should have a daytime number and an emergency out of hours number.

What to expect 

If you contact the council's homeless team during working hours, they should check if you need emergency housing that day.

If they do not ask you about this, tell them:

• you need emergency housing

• why your situation is urgent

• if you're in priority need

Outside of working hours, you might be put through to an out of hours call centre or duty social worker. Ask to speak to the person who deals with out of hours homeless applications.